NEET MDS Lessons
General Pathology
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndromes (MEN)
The MEN syndromes are a group of inherited diseases resulting in proliferative lesions (hyperplasias, adenomas, and carcinomas) of multiple endocrine organs. Even in one organ, the tumors are often multifocal. These tumors are usually more aggressive and recur in a higher proportion of cases than similar but sporadic endocrine tumors.
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 (MEN1) is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. The gene (MEN1) is a tumor suppressor gene; thus, inactivation of both alleles of the gene is believed to be the basis of tumorigenesis. Organs commonly involved include the parathyroid, pancreas, and pituitary (the 3 Ps). Parathyroid hyperplasia is the most consistent feature of MEN-1 but endocrine tumors of the pancreas are the leading cause of death because such tumors are usually aggressive and present with metastatic disease.
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, associated with gastrinomas, and hypoglycemia, related to insulinomas, are common endocrine manifestations. Prolactin-secreting macroadenoma is the most frequent pituitary tumor in MEN-1 patients.
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2 (MEN2)
MEN type 2 is actually two distinct groups of disorders that are unified by the occurrence of activating mutations of the RET protooncogene. Both are inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.
MEN 2A
Organs commonly involved include:
Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid develops in virtually all cases, and the tumors usually occur in the first 2 decades of life. The tumors are commonly multifocal, and foci of C-cell hyperplasia can be found in the adjacent thyroid. Adrenal pheochromocytomas develop in 50% of patients; fortunately, no more than 10% are malignant. Parathyroid gland hyperplasia with primary hyperparathyroidism occurs in a third of patients.
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia, Type 2B
Organs commonly involved include the thyroid and adrenal medulla. The spectrum of thyroid and adrenal medullary disease is similar to that in MEN-2A. However, unlike MEN-2A, patients with MEN-2B:
1. Do not develop primary hyperparathyroidism
2. Develop extraendocrine manifestations: ganglioneuromas of mucosal sites (gastrointestinal tract, lips, tongue) and marfanoid habitus
Hepatitis D virus—can only infect cells previously infected with hepatitis B.
Delta hepatitis (HDV) is associated with a 35-nm RNA virus composed of a delta antigen-bearing core surrounded by HBV's Ag coat;
HDV requires HBV for replication.
Delta hepatitis can cause quiescent HBV states to suddenly worsened . Its transmission is the same as that of HBV.
Hepatitis E virus—a high mortality rate in infected pregnant women.
Hepatitis E (HEV) is caused by a single-stranded RNA virus. The disease is typically self-limited and does not evolve into chronic hepatitis; it may, however, be cholestatic.
Pregnant women may develop fulminant disease.
Transmission is by the fecal oral route.
HEV occurs mainly in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Southeast Asia.
Cholecystitis
It is inflammation of the gall bladder. It may be acute or chronic.
In 80-90% of cases, it is associated with gall stones (Calcular cholecystis).
Causes and pathogenesis:-
Obstruction of cystic or common bile duct- By stones, strictures, pressure from the outside, tumors etc.
Obstruction , chemical irritation of the gall bladder, Secondary bacterial infection, stone formation, trauma to the wall of gall
bladder
Secondary bacterial infection
Usually by intestinal commensals E.coli, streptococcus fecalis. They reach the gall bladder by lymphatics.
S.typhi reaches the gall bladder after systemic infection
Acute cholecystitis
Gall bladder is enlarged edematous and fiery red in color.
- Wall is edematous, hyperemic, may show abscesses or gangrenous dark brown or green or black foci which may perforate.
Serous covering show fibrinosuppurative inflammation and exudation. Mucosa is edematous, hyperemic and ulcerated.
- If associated with stones, obstruction results in accumulation of pus leading to Empyaema of the gall bladder.
Fate:- Healing by fibrosis and adhesions.
Complications:-
- Pericholecystic abscess.
- Rupture leading to acute peritonitis.
- Ascending suppurative cholangitis and liver abscess
Chronic cholecystitis
May follow Acute cholecystitis or starts chronic. Gall stones are usually present.
Pathology
1. If associated with obstruction: Gall bladder is dilated. Wall may be thickened or thinned out. Contents may be clear, turbid or purulent.
2. If not associated with obstruction: - Gall bladder is contracted, wall is markedly thickened.
3. Serosa is smooth with fibrous adhesions. Draining lymph nodes are enlarged.
4. Wall is thickened, opaque and gray-white with red tinge.
5. Mucosa is gray- red with ulcerations and pouches.
6. Stones are usually present
Clinical & biologic death
Clinical death
Clinical death is the reversible transmission between life and biologic death. Clinical death is defined as the period of respiratory, circulatory and brain arrest during which initiation of resuscitation can lead to recovery.
Signs indicating clinical death are
• The patient is without pulse or blood pressure and is completely unresponsive to the most painful stimulus.
• The pupils are widely dilated
• Some reflex reactions to external stimulation are preserved. For example, during intubations, respiration may be restored in response to stimulation of the receptors of the superior laryngeal nerve, the nucleus of which is located in the medulla oblongata near the respiratory center.
• Recovery can occur with resuscitation.
Biological Death
Biological death (sure sign of death), which sets in after clinical death, is an irreversible state
of cellular destruction. It manifests with irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory
functions, or irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including brain stem.
THE ADRENAL GLANDS
ADRENAL CORTEX
The adrenal cortex synthesizes three different types of steroids:
1. Glucocorticoids (principally cortisol), which are synthesized primarily in the zona fasciculata
2. Mineralocorticoids, the most important being aldosterone, which is generated in the zona glomerulosa; and
3. Sex steroids (estrogens and androgens), which are produced largely in the zona reticularis.
ADRENAL MEDULLA
The adrenal medulla is populated by cells derived from the neural crest (chromaffin cells) and their supporting (sustentacular) cells.
They secrete catecholamines in response to signals from preganglionic nerve fibers inthe sympathetic nervous system.
Herpes simplex is subdivided into type 1 and 2, the former usually developing lesions around the lips and mouth and the latter producing vesicular lesions in the genital region
- contracted by physical contact; incubation 2-10 days.
- primary HSV I usually is accompanied by systemic signs of fever and Lymphadenopathy, while recurrent herpes is not associate with systemic signs.
- dentists often become infected by contact with patient saliva and often develop extremely painful infections on the fingers (herpetic whitlow).
- Herpes viruses remain dormant in sensory ganglia and are reactivated by stress, sunlight, menses, etc.
- Herpes gingivostomatitis is MC primary HSV 1 infectionÆpainful, vesicular eruptions that may extend for the tongue to the retropharynx.
- Herpes keratoconjunctivitis (HSV 1)
- Kaposi's varicelliform eruption refers to an HSV 1 infection superimposed on a previous dermatitis, usually in an immunodeficient person.
- laboratory: culture; ELISA test on vesicle fluid; intranuclear inclusions within multinucleated squamous cells in scrapings (Tzanck preps) of vesicular lesions.
Diseases from Str. pyogenes (Group A strep)
1. Streptococcal pharyngitis. Most frequent Group A infection. Throat has gray-white exudate. Infection may become systemic into blood, sinuses, jugular vein, meninges. In less than a week the M-protein and capsule production decrease, and transmission declines.
2. Skin infections, such as impetigo. Especially in children. Different M-proteins than in pharyngitis. Skin infections associated with edema and red streaking (characteristic).
3. Necrotizing fasciitis/myositis. Infection of deeper tissue advances despite antibiotics.
4. Scarlet fever. Caused by phage-associated erythrogenic toxin-producing strains. Toxins cause cardiac, renal, and other systemic failures. Rash is very red with a sand-papery feel and shedding of superficial skin.
5. Toxic Shock Syndrome. Parallels the toxic shock caused by TSST-carrying Staph. aureus.
6. Non-suppurative, post-infection diseases.
Rheumatic fever (myocarditis, cardiac valve disease, polyarthralgia, rashes. Occurs two weeks after a pharyngeal infection)
Glomerulonephritis (Occurs two weeks after pharyngeal or skin infections. Often due to immunologic reaction to M-protein type 12)